Tag-Archive for » Mackenzie Crowne «

TO WIN HER SMILE, book 5 of my #PlayersSeries is live. I’ve had a blast discovering my hunky heroes of the gridiron and Wyatt Hunter is no exception. He’s charming, driven, fun-loving and hot, of course. 😉 He’s also extremely generous, and I think he’d get a kick out of celebrating his and Piper’s HEA with a beach bag giveaway stuffed full of goodies and signed books by some of my favorite authors like AJ Nuest, Allison Bliss, Kelly Moran, and Vonnie Davis.

Sometimes love and luck collide . . .

When sultry British Baroness Piper Darrow falls on desperate times, she needs a diversion—and cash. As a talented photographer, she jumps at the chance to travel to the U.S. for a Manhattan Marauders football event. But she gets more than she bargained for when buff quarterback Wyatt Hunter’s errant pass lands…in her face. And when it results in Wyatt’s comeback of a lifetime, the superstitious athlete is convinced Piper is his good luck charm . . .

With his sights on the Super Bowl, Wyatt will do anything necessary to keep Piper close. The fact that she’s a feast for the eyes is a bonus. And as they get closer, he discovers that beneath her proper English surface is a sweet, sexy seductress. Soon the notorious playboy finds himself genuinely smitten, and surprisingly open to love—until his powerful family uncovers something about Piper that threatens to shatter his trust. Now he’ll have to decide whether to team up with his fears, or his heart.

To purchase TO WIN HER SMILE in all formats, visit

There are multiple ways to enter to win Wyatt’s BeachBookBag, but you can’t win if you don’t play. So, what are you waiting for?

For Jane Whitmore, agreeing to switch identities with her best friend seems like innocent fun, but spending a romantic night in Paris with a man who doesn’t know her real name turns out to be a lark gone bad. When their one night of passion proves to have lasting results, tracking down Gabe Sutton and telling him he’s about to be the father of her child is just another calamity Jane would rather avoid.

After years of avoiding long-term romantic entanglements, Gabe has found a woman he might just be able to build a life with, only to have her disappear. When he finally finds her, his belief in happily-ever-after staggers under the weight of deception, and looming fatherhood leaves him with two choices: fight her for custody of his future child or cling to the promise of true love.

Yep, you read that right. To Win Her Love is on #sale for 99 pennies. Yay!

So, what are you waiting for? Go grab your copy now!

I jumped in with both feet, went on one heck of a journey with Gracie and Jake, before coming out on the other side with the biggest cheesy smile on my face. Hands down, I loved this book! ~ Wild Heart Reviews

Leave a comment for a chance at one of three free downloads of book #3 in my Players series,

TO WIN HER HEART

(random winners chosen 4/28)

EXCERPT:

“Is it all worth it?”

Immediately defensive, though she wasn’t sure why, she played dumb. “What do you mean?”

“The schedule. The headaches. The insomnia.”

She tensed as he ticked off the negative points she couldn’t argue. After days of nothing but pillow talk and laughter, the harsh reminder of reality stung. Pasting a teasing smile on her lips, she fluttered her lashes and attempted to head off the unpleasant direction the conversation had taken. “We’ve cured the insomnia, remember?”

He didn’t smile as she’d hoped. “What about the headaches?”

“Those, too.” With the way he seemed to spot whenever a migraine came on, he had to have noticed she’d been headache free since they’d been in the woods. Only time would tell if they would return once she was back onstage, but the tone of his questions made her nervous. “Where’s this going, Max?”

He shifted to his side so she came to rest on her back, her head cradled on his forearm. None of the easy laughter of the last few days shown in his somber eyes. “I’m curious. That first night at my condo, you spoke about your mother’s death and of owing your father for helping you attain her dream of seeing you on stage, but you said nothing about the dream being yours.”

Nerves skidded into unease and her stomach plummeted. With less than twelve hours left before they had to leave, she could think of a thousand things she’d rather do than discuss her career or her meltdown last week. Obviously, Max was of a different opinion.

“What kind of question is that?” Try as she might, some of her tension leaked out, making her answer curt. “I’ve worked damned hard to make it to where I am.”

He leaned over her, his gaze steady as it held hers. “I’m not questioning your talent or your drive. You have more of both than anyone I’ve ever met. You shine when you stand before an audience, Jess. I’ve never seen anyone own the stage the way you do, but I’ve also seen the fear in your eyes before each performance.”

She shrugged a shoulder as if the gut-wrenching terror gripping her each time she stepped on the stage was no big deal. “Lots of performers suffer from stage fright. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to be there.” The claim sounded defensive even to her.

He nodded, as if he agreed, but didn’t back down from his line of questioning. “And afterward? The headaches and insomnia? Where do those come from? Because there hasn’t been a stage in sight for five days and suddenly they’re gone.”

Damn it. Did he think she hadn’t noticed? Didn’t wish there was a viable solution to make the stress and unhappiness go away? Angry tears of desperation threatened, and she avoided his gaze by rolling her head to the side. The best defense was a good offense. Several deep breaths helped her gain control and she went on attack. “Why all the questions? Is this another of your attempts to prepare me for when you’re gone?”

The question had been a red herring, designed to knock him off track, but the flash of guilt in his eyes told her she’d hit the bull’s eye.

He sighed. “In a way, I guess it is, but you came to me for help. That’s what I’m trying to do.”

“How? By pissing me off?” She attempted to roll away from him. He threw a thigh over both of hers and held her where she was.

“By asking the questions you should be asking yourself.” He swept his thumb over her cheek in a gentle caress. “You claim you’re losing yourself. How can you find your way to where you want to be without looking at where you’ve been?”

Her attempt at diversion had only added hurt to an already uncomfortable conversation. Maybe sarcasm was the answer. “Geez, who are you, Dr. Phil?”

He didn’t bite. Saying nothing, he continued to hold her pinned beneath him.

Damn it, why couldn’t he just drop it? What was the point? Every dream came with sacrifices and hardships. The important ones anyway. Her mother hadn’t survived to see hers realized. That made her dream more important than most.

Jessi slid her eyelids shut against his intent gaze. “I have to sing, Max. If I couldn’t, my soul would shrivel up and die.” She opened her eyes. “Are you suggesting I give it up?”

His gaze softened, and he shook his head. “Not at all. If singing is what you need, then do it. All I’m suggesting is you take a good hard look at your life and consider your options. Figure out what’s holding you back from being happy. Find out what it is you want and then make it happen.”

The earnest concern in his eyes warmed her heart. She lifted her hand to cup his bristled cheek. “Haven’t I made it perfectly clear what I want?”

“Jessi.” He wrapped his fingers around her wrist and tugged her hand away from his face before letting go.

“Max.” She held his gaze until he dropped his chin to his chest and sighed.

The marked pain on his face slashed at her like knives. After the emotional jarring he’d just given her, evidence the past two days hadn’t made a bit of difference in his plans really did piss her off.

Sliding his arm from beneath her head, he flopped onto his back to stare at the ceiling.

She rolled her head and stared at his profile. “At least I’m honest about what I want.”

“Are you? When you’re afraid to even look at a reality that’s making you ill?”

Her slow, indrawn breath didn’t fully deflect the hurt. She rose on her elbow and leaned over him. “What about you, hopping from woman to woman while getting your family fix through my family’s gatherings.”

His eyes sliced to her, full of heat at her cruel words.

Too hurt and angry to care, she pressed on before he could reply. “What kind of existence is that? Don’t you want more than a borrowed family? Don’t you want one you can call your own?”

He bared his teeth in a smile that didn’t come close to reaching his eyes. “I’ll stick with borrowed. I’ve had some experience with real family.” He pushed up to sit on the edge of the bed. The muscles of his back bunched as he leaned forward. “In my experience, they’re not worth the effort.”

Sarcasm aside, the underlying anger in his words cooled hers. She curled her fingers around his arm before he could stand. “I’m sorry, Max. I shouldn’t have said that.”

Her fingers slid away as he bent to pick up his briefs and stood.

“Your family’s friendship means a lot to me. I’ve never hidden that fact, but they aren’t a stand in for a family of my own.” He stepped into his briefs, tugged them up his legs, and over his hips. “Not everyone is cut out for picket fences and kids, Squirt. In fact, in most cases, the world is better off when bad blood isn’t passed on.” He headed for the door. “Get some sleep. We have an early flight in the morning.”

She stared at his back as he disappeared down the stairs. Bad blood? What the hell?

Your next book boyfriends are waiting…A sexy veterinarian, a hot rock star, a broody cop, a determined warrior, and a rugged cowboy!

Jezebel’s Wish by AJ Nuest

Midnight Heat by Sarah Grimm

The Drake House by Kelly Moran

Gift of the Realm by Mackenzie Crowne

Storm’s Interlude by Vonnie Davis

“Will tug at your heartstrings.”The Romance Review on JEZEBEL’S WISH

“Kept me frantically turning the pages.”Night Owl Reviews on THE DRAKE HOUSE

“As heartbreaking as it is sensually hot.”Tome Tender on MIDNIGHT HEAT

“I did not want this book to end.”JAM Bookblog on GIFT OF THE REALM

“Prepare yourselves for a breathtaking journey.” Siren Book Review on STORM’S INTERLUDE

AJ NUEST

Multi-published award-winning author and editor, AJ Nuest, resides in Northwest Indiana with her loving husband, two beautiful children and a bevy of spoiled pets. She and the cat are currently vying for dictatorship. The cat is winning.

www.AJNuest.com

SARAH GRIMM

The youngest of four, Sarah Grimm can’t remember a time when she wasn’t writing. In fact, her siblings believe she began writing in utero to pass the time. As a child, Sarah wrote constantly, littering the house with bulging spiral notebooks and ignoring the ribbing of her mother and sister who routinely said ‘romances?’ in a somewhat scornful tone. Sarah is a Readers Favorite Award winner, a Romance Through the Ages award winner for Best Contemporary Romance, and a Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence finalist.

KELLY MORANKelly Moran is a romance author of enchanting ever-afters. No one who knows her bats an eyelash when she talks to herself. She is a Catherine Award-Winner, Readers Choice Finalist, and a Finalist in RWA’s 2014 Award of Excellence. She earned one of the 10 Best Reads by USA TODAY’s HEA. Kelly’s interests include: sappy movies, MLB, NFL, driving others insane, and sleeping when she can. She is a closet caffeine junkie and chocoholic, but don’t tell anyone. She resides in Wisconsin with her husband, three sons, and her black lab. Most of her family lives in the Carolinas, so she spends a lot of time there as well.

MACKENZIE CROWNE

Hi there. My name is Mackenzie Crowne.

I’m a wife, mother and really young grandmother. Together with my high school sweet heart husband, a neurotic Pomeranian and a blind cat, I call Phoenix home because the southwest feeds my soul. My love of the romance genre has been a lifelong affair, both as a reader and a writer. A bout with breast cancer sharpened my resolve to see my stories shared with others. Today I’m a six-year survivor living the dream.

Raised on the concept that a stranger is just one conversation away from being a friend, I love meeting new people. My friends call me Mac. I hope you will too.

VONNIE DAVIS

Vonnie Davis is an award-winning, international author who writes contemporary, historical and contemporary paranormal romance, often with a strong spice of suspense and dollops of humor. She likens herself to a croissant: warm, crusty, wrinkled, a tad flaky–and best served with strong coffee.

Vonnie’s heroes are always that delightful blend of alpha male with a chewy chocolate beta center. And her heroines? Her heroines are feisty females, who take life’s adversities and turn them into advantages. The settings for her stories range from the Scottish Highlands to the gulf side of Florida to the hill country of Texas to her favorite city, Paris. Yet the home-base for each plot resides within the reader’s heart, where the hope of everlasting love dwells.

Although she began her writing career with The Wild Rose Press, moving up to HarperImpulse, she currently writes for Random House LoveSwept.

She is a PAN member of RWA and several RWA groups. Find out more about Vonnie and her books at www.vonniedavis.com